the cruise of the jasper b.-第3章

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a　history。



Cleggett　noticed；　as　he　walked　aboard　the　vessel；　that　she　seemed

to　be　jammed　not　merely　against；　but　into　the　bank　of　the　canal。　

She　was　nearer　the　shore　than　he　had　ever　seen　a　vessel　of　any

sort。　　Some　weeds　grew　in　soil　that　had　lodged　upon　the　deck；　in

a　couple　of　places　they　sprang　as　high　as　the　rail。　　Weeds　grew

on　shore；　in　fact；　it　would　have　taken　a　better　nautical

authority　than　Cleggett　to　tell　offhand　just　exactly　where　the

land　ended　and　the　Jasper　B。　began。　　She　seemed　to　be　possessed

of　an　odd　stability；　although　the　tide　was　receding　the　Jasper　B。

was　not　perceptibly　agitated　by　the　motion　of　the　water。　　Of

anchor；　or　mooring　chains　or　cables　of　any　sort；　there　was　no

sign。



The　brown　old　manhe　was　brown　not　only　as　to　the　portions　of

his　skin　visible　through　his　hair　and　whiskers；　but　also　as　to

coat　and　trousers　and　worn　boots　and　cap　and　pipe　and　flannel

shirtturned　around　as　Cleggett　stepped　aboard；　and　stared　at

the　invader　with　a　shaggy…browed　intensity　that　was　embarrassing。



It　occurred　to　Cleggett　that　the　old　man　might　own　the　vessel　and

make　a　home　of　her。



〃I　beg　your　pardon　if　I　am　intruding；〃　ventured　Cleggett；

politely；　〃but　do　you　live　here？〃



The　brown　old　man　made　an　indeterminate　motion　of　his　head；

without　otherwise　replying　at　once。　　Then　he　took　a　cake　of　dark；

hard…looking　tobacco　from　the　starboard　pocket　of　his　trousers

and　a　clasp　knife　from　the　port　side。　　He　shaved　off　a　fresh

pipeful；　rolled　it　in　his　palms；　knocked　the　old　ash　from　his

pipe；　refilled　and　relighted　it；　all　with　the　utmost

deliberation。　　Then　he　cut　another　small　piece　of　tobacco　from

the　〃plug〃　and　popped　it　into　his　mouth。　　Cleggett　perceived　with

surprise　that　he　smoked　and　chewed　tobacco　at　the　same　time。　　As

he　thus　refreshed　himself　he　glanced　from　time　to　time　at

Cleggett　as　if　unfavorably　impressed。　　Finally　he　closed　his

knife　with　a　click　and　suddenly　piped　out　in　a　high；　shrill

voice：



〃No！　　Do　you？〃



〃Ierdo　I　what？〃　　It　had　taken　the　old　man　so　long　to　answer

that　Cleggett　had　forgotten　his　own　question；　and　the　shrill

fierceness　of　the　voice　was　disconcerting。



He　regarded　Cleggett　contemptuously；　spat　on　the　deck；　and　then

demanded　truculently：



〃D'ye　want　to　buy　any　seed　potatoes？〃



〃Whyer；　no；〃　said　Cleggett。



〃Humph！〃　said　the　brown　one；　with　the　air　of　meaning　that　it　was

only　to　be　expected　of　an　idiot　like　Cleggett　that　he　would　NOT

want　to　buy　any　seed　potatoes。　　But　after　a　further　embarrassing

silence　he　relented　enough　to　give　Cleggett　another　chance。



〃You　want　some　seed　corn！〃　he　announced　　rather　than　asked。



〃No。　　I〃



〃Tomato　plants！〃　shrilled　the　brown　one；　as　if　daring　him　to　deny

it。



〃No。〃



He　turned　his　back　on　Cleggett；　as　if　he　had　lost　interest；　and

began　to　wind　up　his　fishing　line　on　a　squeaky　reel。



〃Who　owns　this　boat？〃　Cleggett　touched　him　on　the　elbow。



〃Thinkin'　of　buyin'　her？〃



〃Perhaps。　　Who　owns　her？〃



〃What　would　you　do　with　her？〃



〃I　might　fix　her　up　and　sail　her。　　Who　owns　her？〃



〃She'll　take　a　sight　o'　fixin'。〃



〃No　doubt。　　Who　did　you　say　owned　her？〃



The　old　man；　who　had　finished　with　the　rusty　reel；　deigned　to

look　at　Cleggett　again。



〃Dunno　as　I　said。〃



〃But　who　DOES　own　her？〃



〃She's　stuck　fast　in　the　mud　and　her　rudder's　gone。〃



〃I　see　you　know　a　lot　about　ships；〃　said　Cleggett；　deferentially；

giving　up　the　attempt　to　find　out　who　owned　her。　　〃I　picked　you

out　for　an　old　sailor　the　minute　I　saw　you。〃　　He　thought　he

detected　a　kindlier　gleam　in　the　old　man's　eye　as　that　person

listened　to　these　words。



〃The'　ain't　a　stick　in　her；〃　said　the　ancient　fisherman。　　〃She's

got　no　wheel　and　she's　got　no　nothin'。　　She　used　to　be　used　as　a

kind　of　a　barroom　and　dancin'　platform　till　the　fellow　that　used

her　for　such　went　out　o'　business。〃



He　paused；　and　then　added：



〃What　might　your　name　be？〃



〃Cleggett。〃



He　appeared　to　reflect　on　the　name。　　But　he　said：



〃If　you　was　to　ask　me；　I'd　say　her　timbers　is　sound。〃



〃Tell　me；〃　said　Cleggett；　〃was　she　a　deep…water　ship？　　Could　a

ship　like　her　sail　around　the　world；　for　instance？　　I　can　tell

that　you　know　all　about　ships。〃



Something　like　a　grin　of　gratified　vanity　began　to　show　on　the

brown　one's　features。　　He　leaned　back　against　the　rail　and　looked

at　Cleggett　with　the　dawn　of　approval　in　his　eyes。



〃My　name's　Abernethy；〃　he　suddenly　volunteered。　　〃Isaiah

Abernethy。　　The　fellow　that　owns　her　is　Goldberg。　　Abraham

Goldberg。　　Real　estate　man。〃



〃Cleggett　began　to　get　an　insight　into　Mr。　Abernethy's　peculiar

ideas　concerning　conversation。　　A　native　spirit　of　independence

prevented　Mr。　Abernethy　from　dealing　with　an　interlocutor's

remarks　in　the　sequence　that　seemed　to　be　desired　by　the

interlocutor。　　He　took　a　selection　of　utterances　into　his　mind；

rolled　them　over　together；　and　replied　in　accordance　with　some

esoteric　system　of　his　own。



〃Where　is　Mr。　Goldberg's　office？〃　asked　Cleggett。



〃You've　come　to　the　proper　party　to　get　set　right　about　ships；〃

said　Mr。　Abernethy；　complacently。　〃Either　you　was　sent　to　me　by

someone　that　knows　I'm　the　proper　party　to　set　you　right　about

ships；　or　else　you　got　an　eye　in　your　own　head　that　can　recognize

a　man　that　comes　of　a　seafarin'　fambly。〃



〃You　ARE　an　old　sailor；　then？　　Maybe　you　are　an　old　skipper？　

Perhaps　you're　one　of　the　retired　Long　Island　sea　captains　we're

always　hearing　so　much　about？〃



〃So　fur　as　sailin'　her　around　the　world　is　concerned；〃　said　Mr。

Abernethy；　glancing　over　the　hulk；　〃if　she　was　fixed　up　she　could

be　sailed　anywheresanywheres！〃



〃What　would　you　call　hera　schooner？〃



〃This　here　Goldberg；〃　said　Mr。　Abernethy；　〃has　his　office　over

town　right　accost　from　the　railroad　depot。〃



And　with　that　he　put　his　fishing　pole　over　his　shoulder　and

prepared　to　leavea　tall；　strong…looking　old　man　with　long　legs

and　knotty　wrists；　who　moved　across　the　deck　with　surprising

spryness。　At　the　gangplank　he　sang　out　without　turning　his　head：



〃As　far　as　my　bein'　a　skipper's　concerned；　they's　no　law　agin'

callin'　me　Cap'n　Abernethy　if　you　want　to。　　I　come　of　a　seafarin'

fambly。〃



He　crossed　the　platform；　when　he　had　gone　thirty　yards　further　he

stopped；　turned　around；　and　shouted：



〃Is　she　a　schooner；　hey？　　You　want　to　know　is　she　a　schooner？　　If

you　was　askin'　me；　she　ain't　NOTHIN'　now。　　But　if　you　was　to　ask

me　again　I　might　say　she　COULD　be　schooner…rigged。　　Lots　of　boats

IS　schooner…rigged。〃



There　are　affinities　between　atom　and　atom；　between　man　and

woman；　between　man　and　man。　There　are　also　affinities　between　men

and　things…if　you　choose　to　call　a　ship；　which　has　a　spirit　of

its　own；　merely　a　thing。　　There　must　have　been　this　affinity

between　Cleggett　and　the　Jasper　B。　　Only　an　unusual　person　would

have　thought　of　buying　her。　　But　Cleggett　loved　her　at　first

sight。



Within　an　hour　after　he　had　first　seen　her　he　was　in　Mr。　Abraham

Goldberg's　office。



As　he　was　concluding　his　purchaseMr。　Goldberg　having　phoned

Cleggett's　bankershe　was　surprised　to　discover　that　he　was

buying　about　half　an　acre　of　Long　Island　real　estate　along　with

her。　For　that　matter　he　had　thought　it　a　little　odd　in　the　first

place　when　he　had　been　directed　to　a　real　estate　agent　as　the

owner　of　the　craft。　　But　as　he　knew　very　little　about　business；

and　nothing　at　all　about　ships；　he　assumed　that　perhaps　it　was

quite　the　usual　thing　for　real　estate　dealers　to　buy　and　sell

ships　abutting　on　the　coast　of　Long　Island。



〃I　had　only　intended　to　buy　the　vessel；〃　said　Cleggett。　　〃I　don't

know　that　I'll　be　able　to　use　the　land。〃



Mr。　Goldberg　looked　at　Cleggett　with　a　slight　start；　as　if　he

were　not　sure　that　he　had　heard　aright；　and　opened　his　mouth　as

if　to　say　something。　　But　nothing　came　of　itnot　just　then；　at

least。　　When　the　last　signature　had　been　written；　and　Clegget's

check　had　been　folded　by　Mr。　Goldberg's　plump；　bejeweled　fingers

and　put　into　Mr。　Goldberg's　pocketbook；　Mr。　Goldberg　remarked：



〃You　say　you　can't　use　the　ship？〃



〃No；　the　land。　　I'm　surprised　to　find　that　the　land　goes　with　the

ship。〃



〃Why；　it　doesn't；〃　said　Mr。　Goldberg。　　〃It's　the　ship　that　goes

with　the　land。　　She　was　on　the　land　when　I　bought　the　plot；　and　I

just　left　her　there。　　Nobody's　paid　any　attention　to　her　for

years。〃



The　words　〃on　the　land〃　grated　on　Cleggett。



〃You　mean　on　the　water；　don't　you？〃



〃In　the　mud；　then；〃　suggested　Mr。　Goldberg。



〃But　she'll　sail　all　right；〃　said　Cleggett。



〃I　suppose　if　she　was　decorated　up　with　sails　and　things　she'd

sail。　　Figuring　on　sailing　her　anywhere　in　particular？〃



〃Subtly　irritated；　Cleggett　answered：　〃Oh；　no；　no！　Not　anywhere

in　particular！〃



〃Going　to　live　on　her　this　summer？Outdoor　sleeping　room；　and

all　that？〃



〃I'm　thinking　of　it。〃



〃You　could　turn　her　into　a　house　boat　easy　enough。　　I　had　a

friend　who　turned　an　old　barge　like　that　into　a　house　boat　and

had　a　lot　of　fun　with　her。〃



〃Barge？〃　　Cleggett　rose　and　buttoned　his　coat；　the　conversation

was　somehow　growing　more　and　more　distasteful　to　him。　　〃You

wouldn't　call　the　Jasper　B。　a　BARGE；　would　you？〃　



〃Well；　you　wouldn't　call　her　a　YACHT；　would　you？〃　said　Mr。

Goldberg。



〃Perhaps　not；〃　admitted　Cleggett；　〃perhaps　not。　She's　more　like　a

bark　than　a　yacht。〃



〃A　bark？　　I　dunno。　　Always　thought　a　bark　was　bigger。　　A　scow's

more　her　size；　ain't　it？〃



〃Scow？〃　　Cleggett　frowned。　　The　Jasper　B。　a　scow！　　〃You　mean　a

schooner；　don't　you？〃



〃Schooner？〃　　Mr。　Goldberg　grinned　good…naturedly　at　his　departing

customer。　　〃A　kind　of　a　schooner…scow；　huh？〃



〃No；　sir；　a　schooner！〃　said　Cleggett；　reddening；　and　turning　in

the　doorway。　　〃Understand　me；　Mr。　Goldberg；　a　schooner；　sir！　　A

schooner！〃



And　standing　with　a　frown　on　his　face　until　every　vestige　of　the

smile　had　died　from　Mr。　Goldberg's　lips；　Cleggett　repeated　once

more：　　〃A　schooner；　Mr。　Goldberg！〃



〃Yes；　sirthere's　no　doubt　of　ita　schooner；　Mr。　Cleggett；〃

said　Mr。　Goldberg；　turning　pale　and　backing　away　from　the　door。



The　ordinary　man　inspects　a　house　or　a　horse　first　and　buys　it；

or　fails　to　buy　it；　afterward；　but　genius　scorns　conventions；

Cleggett　was　not　an　ordinary　man；　he　often　moved　straight　towards

his　object　by　inspiration；　great　poets　and　great　adventurers

share　this　faculty；　Cleggett　paid　for　the　Jasper　B。　first　and

went　back　to　inspect　his　purchase　later。



The　vessel　lay　about　two　miles　from　the　center　of　Fairport。　　He

could　get　within　half　a　mile　of　it　by　trolley。　　Nevertheless；

when　he　reached　the　Jasper　B。　again　after　leaving　Mr。　Goldberg　it

was　getting　along　towards　dusk。



He　first　entered　the　cabin。　　It　was　of　a　good　size　and　divided

into　several　compartments。